$49.00 Made Big Difference

[Jon, The Elder]

I've been limping along on USB 1.1 all this last season. Finally invested in a Belkin USB hi-speed 2.0 hub. What a difference! I'm slowly changing my peripherals to the latest versions in anticipation of building a new computer this Fall. Now I don't have to walk away from the computer and find something to do while it moves/downloads data.
The $49.00 has saved me that much in processing time already.

[DocFrankenstein]

Funny... I got this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=359519&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Why did you go with belkin?

[Scottes]

Yeah, I spent a year at USB 1.1 before finally going to 2.0. What a difference!

[Belmondo]

Funny... I got this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=359519&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Why did you go with belkin?

That's a card reader. He's talking about a hub.

I agree, though. USB 2.0 is a huge improvement. I also have a IEEE-1394 card reader that's about as fast.

[DocFrankenstein]

OMG that's too funny.

I should really take time and not speedread through.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I also have a IEEE-1394 card reader that's about as fast.

For the computer illiterate, "IEEE-1394" is the same as saying "Firewire". As I understand it, firewire is currently the fastest wired connection available, as far as "peripherals" go. Capable of burst speeds of up to 480mbps. I usre firewire with everything I possibly can. After all, my xps has 6 ports for it.

[Belmondo]

Firewire and USB 2.0 are about the same speed, but USB will slow down with traffic on the buss. The more peripherals you hang off the USB buss, the slower it gets as they start competing with each other.

[m3incorp]

Ahhh, a hub is only as fast as the port it is plugged into. Now if that hub is attached via a USB 2.0 PCI card or 2.0 bus card, then I get you.

[aam1234]

setiprime, does the hub you bought needs to be plugged to electricity to work.

Does anybody know of a 2.0 hub that can be used directly in the PC/laptop.

Thanks

[m3incorp]

Almost all can be used without power, but they won't deliver the 2.0 speeds.

[Jon, The Elder]

aam1234 - m3incorp pretty much answered it. It depends on the card controller and the device needing power. Some are passive but function slower.

DocF - device confusion aside, I have found Belkin to be very reliable. Started using Belkin connectors and cable components in my Video business back in 1986.

Belmondo - I considered that as I have 2 printers and Wacom tablet and card reader permanently plugged into the hub. However, my workflow is such that I am usually performing one task and using one device at a time. The nice part is that it is a 7 device hub - allowing for additional devices for temp plug&play (such as my Epson P2000 viewer).

[aam1234]

That's bad news. But thank you guys for the answer.

[Citizensmith]

Powered/Unpowered USB can be annoying. I had a thumb drive (A Sandisk Cruzer Mini) that would only work in powered hubs, much to my annoyance. Got a Corsair Voyager now and its much happier.
So unpowered sometime means slower and sometimes means no function at all. However, it really beats lugging a transformer around.

As for Belkin, my work used to buy them. I had 3 hubs burn out in under a year (one actually sparked enough to leave a burnt plastic smell) so I will never touch Belkin again. Got an IOgear now that is solid, although I had a cardreader/hub from them that was really crappy.

[johnnybfan]

Wish I could get my 2.0 connections to read at 2.0 and not 1.1. I had 2.0 until my motherboard took a dump about a year ago. Installed a new one and just can't get the 2.0 to work. I've been in touch with the manufacturer tech dept. and they tell me it's not the fault of their motherboard (:confused: :confused: :mad: :mad: ) Right, why would anyone admit that their product stinks? Oh well guess I'll have to break down and get another motherboard - definitely not the same brand - in order to get my 2.0 back. 1.1 stinks :lol: :lol:

[Scottes]

How about a USB 2.0 card? I got one for my old PC. I think it was $20, and gave me 4 ports of USB 2.0 on a USB 1.1 motherboard.

[m3incorp]

Johnnybfan. Don't know what OS you are using, but assuming the board supports USB 2.0; you can download the drivers. How do you know the 2.0 is not functioning. Does any devices work in it?

[The22oz]

Firewire and USB 2.0 are about the same speed, but USB will slow down with traffic on the buss. The more peripherals you hang off the USB buss, the slower it gets as they start competing with each other.

I'm sure this is true ... but only by a very small percentage. What really slows USB down is the overhead. The USB is just a communication port which you can think of a device without drivers runs slower. So it always has to communicate instructions for that device. Devices with firewire have built in hardware that handles that communication. Thats not all exactly right I'm sure but thats pretty much how I remember it.